Inline assistant
Suggestions as you type, only in the apps you choose
Turn it on, pick the apps where it may run and ToneMate underlines mistakes while you write. Click the underline, read the fix and apply it.
macOS 14 or later · Free while in beta · No subscription
In short
The inline assistant is an optional ToneMate feature, off by default, that watches the text field you are typing in through macOS Accessibility, underlines problems and shows a bubble with a suggested fix. It combines the macOS spell checker, which runs locally, with an AI model for grammar, clarity and tone. It only runs in the apps you add to an allow list.
Quick facts
- Off by default; you turn it on and add the apps where it is allowed to run.
- Combines the macOS spell checker (local) with an AI model for grammar, clarity and tone.
- Never runs in Xcode, Terminal or Console, or in password fields.
- Needs the Accessibility permission and its own model; with a cloud model, the checked text goes to that provider.
How it works
- 1
Turn it on
Enable the inline assistant in the app and give ToneMate the Accessibility permission.
- 2
Choose where it runs
Add the apps where you want suggestions. With none added, nothing is checked.
- 3
Keep writing
When you pause, ToneMate checks what you just wrote and underlines the problems.
- 4
Click and apply
Click an underline to see the suggestion and why, then apply it. In native apps you can undo it with Cmd+Z.
How it decides what to check
ToneMate waits for you to pause (one second by default, adjustable from a tenth of a second to ten) and then checks the text you wrote in that session. It only looks at text of at least 8 characters and at segments of up to 800, so it does not re-read a whole long document every time.
You can set up to 3 writing languages, or leave it empty to detect the language automatically.
Write the instruction, accept the chip
While the inline assistant is on, the Intent Engine can recognise an instruction typed at the end of your text, such as “rewrite professional” or “translate this to English”, and show a small chip. Accept it and ToneMate opens the matching action on that text and replaces it with the result. It recognises instructions in English, Spanish, Italian, French, German and Portuguese.
Good to know
What it does not do, and what you need first.
- It is opt-in per app. If you have not added an app, the assistant does nothing there.
- It does not run in Xcode, Terminal, Console or password fields.
- In apps that do not expose where the text is on screen, it shows a small floating badge instead of an underline.
- There is no preferred-tone setting for the assistant, and with a cloud model the fragments it checks are sent to that provider.
Where it helps
Typos while you chat
Catch slips without stopping to run an action.
Writing in a second language
See grammar suggestions underlined as you write.
Email drafts
Get light feedback in the apps you allow, and nowhere else.
Commands in your own text
Type “translate this to English” at the end and accept the chip.
Frequently asked questions
Is the inline assistant always on?
No. It is off by default and does nothing until you turn it on, give the Accessibility permission and add at least one app to the allow list.
Does it send everything I type to a server?
ToneMate never sends text to its own servers. The macOS spell checker runs on your Mac. The AI check uses the model you configure for the assistant: with a local model it stays on your Mac, with a cloud model the fragments it checks go to that provider.
In which apps can it run?
Only in the ones you add. It never runs in Xcode, Terminal or Console, or in password fields. We are still checking apps one by one, so we do not publish a list of supported apps yet.
What do I need to set up?
A Mac with macOS 14 or later, the Accessibility permission, and a model: either a local one (Ollama or MLX running on your Mac, which ToneMate can install and test) or your own API key from a cloud provider. Dictation also needs a speech model, which you download once. The first setup takes a few minutes.
Can I buy or download ToneMate today?
You can download it, but not buy it yet. ToneMate is in free beta: download the app and request a free license key, which has no fixed end date. The plan for the full version is a one-time purchase that includes 2 licenses; when the first stable version comes out, a 30-day free trial starts.
Keep exploring
- ProofreadFix grammar, spelling, punctuation and style in the text you select, and see every change.Learn more
- AnalyzeReview a text before you send it: suggestions you accept or skip one by one, two scores and a detected tone.Learn more
- RewriteChange the tone and wording of selected text, and compare it with the original before you insert it.Learn more
- Local AI writing assistantRun ToneMate's writing actions with a model on your Mac, what to expect, and what we measured.Learn more
Try the inline assistant in the free beta
ToneMate is in free beta. Download it and request a free license key: we email it to you.
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